DANGEN’s long-awaited 2D action platformer, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, will launch on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC June 3, 2021. You can check out the game’s brand new trailer above.
Follow three warriors as they take on a perilous mission to save their town in a post-apocalyptic world. Having made a pact with the Titan of Death, Epimetheus, the characters are granted the power to grow stronger each time they die and must surmount the mysterious Tower of Serpents in search of answers. Players can switch between the three heroes and must utilize their unique skills to take down monsters, solve puzzles, find artifacts, and progress through the game, all while uncovering the intriguing backstory behind the Titan, the tower and the heroes.
Arias, the Fighter
Arias is a quick, short-range character who slashes with his sword. He starts the game with greater defense than his allies, and can use his sword to cut through vein doors in the tower. He is a young fighter who is willing to jump head-first into anything that stands in his way. As the son of the warrior named Silas, the wielder of the powerful Crystal Sword, he tries his hardest to live up to his father’s legacy.
Algus, the Wizard
Algus is a wizard who can use his magic to shoot magic bolts through walls and activate magic switches strewn about the tower. He made a pact with Epimetheus, the Titan of Death, to receive the power of reincarnation. He can use Epimetheus’ power to return again after dying, much to Epimetheus’ growing annoyance. What other powers does he possess?
Kyuli, the Rogue
Kyuli fights using a long-range bow, and her light weight allows her to jump off of walls to reach greater heights. She is a childhood friend of Arias, who once depended on tricks and thievery to survive. She was taken in by Arias’ village as a young orphan, and over time, has changed her outlook and ways.
“Despite looking like a normal fantasy setting, it’s actually a deep, post-apocalyptic world, with a lot of inspiration taken from things like Mad Max and Fist of the North Star,” says lead developer Matt Kap. “There are also things loosely-based on Greek Mythological gods and creatures, something that has interested me since childhood.”
Astalon rewards players in defeat by allowing them to exchange collected orbs for various skills and upgrades when they reincarnate. Players can power up each of the heroes’ defense and attack stats, or they can purchase a relic that grants the power to gather fallen orbs, reveals secret locations, prolongs invincibility, and more. Players can play at their own pace by exploring thoroughly and bolstering their characters’ strengths, or use risky methods to slice their way up the tower furiously.
In addition to power-up pacts with Epimetheus, players must explore and collect a variety of artifacts to progress through the game, such as the “Griffon Claw,” that will bestow their characters with new abilities to explore further into the tower. Players can use campfires to save progress, change characters and discover details about the heroes’ pasts. Astalon features hundreds of rooms to discover, hours of challenging exploration with a plethora of unlockables and secrets to reward the most inquisitive players.
As the first foray into the Astalon universe, Tears of the Earth is designed by Matt Kap (Castle in the Darkness) and Jon Lepage at LABS Works, featuring character design by famed manga artist, Ryusuke Mita (Dragon Half). The game arrives on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 3, 2021, and will retail for $19.99 USD. Two music albums — one 8-bit, the other an orchestral arrangement — will also be released.
